Project; Oriental looking flower vases from fabric and bottles

Oh, this is a nice decorating touch - very Japanese. Reminds me of Japanese kimonos with oboe waist bands.

Why spend big money on something you likely can recreate using fabric and interesting bottles you already have or can find in your spelunking at collectible stores, flea markets, thrift shops. Or at least that is what I plan to do to recreate this decorating look.

Chase away the winter blues with kitchen window garden

What a beautiful and enchanting visual on cold, winter days. I want one like this for my kitchen window. The blue glass is eye catching. Link to her blog entry which references a couple of gardening blog directories of garden blogs across - well everywhere.

Project; painted coffee table, diy, make your own coffee table

Oh, I do want to make this kind of coffee table. I wouldn't tire of looking at it and it looks yummy, so inviting. A diy project and link to the photos showing the step by step process. I don't see written diretions (tutorial) so it's a photo tutorial for how to...

Leaving an impression of an imprint..sustainable living choices.

Leaving an impression of an imprint, an outline of a footprint, instead of Bigfoot evidence of squandering resources - sustainable living. A more respectful way of taking and giving back and leaving something for the next generation(s). Pass it forward.

What has been a journey for us that started years earlier, has taken on differing identifying terms as the definitions have changed. Sometimes definitions cross paths, creating junctions, and it is at the junctions that I stop and take notice that where I thought I was headed is a direction many others have willingly taken.

Meaningful, intentional lifestyle living in respect for Mother Earth. New definitions include sustainable living; concerns of global warming but there were definitions trying to point in that direction that preceded these current popular definitions.

So yes, I prefer that my husband and I leave an impression of an imprint of our lives and stewardship for the resources we've used and returned.

Thus, begins linking up some of the blogs and websites that point to the broader definitions that are inclusive of meaningful, intentional lifestyle. Some people have more choices in making deliberate lifestyle changes where other people wind up making lifestyle changes due to changes in their own life circumstances. Single mothers, loss of career or job, changes in economy, catastrophic life changes, catastrophes of nature - forced reductionism. Whether you arrive by choice or by circumstances, there is much to be said for consuming less, choosing more deliberately, and finding the pleasure and joy of living more connected to the flow of Mother Earth, nature.

I'm not there yet, don't pretend to be more than a traveler on a journey to getting there, but along my own travels, I can write of my own experiences. Perhaps other travelers will join me, perhaps we will meet up at the junctures that mark this journey as more than one path, more than one highway, more than one journey that criss crosses the map of life.


For my husband and myself, at our mid-life ages, our goals and hope is to move into our later years with vitality, healthy habits, and fill our life with the joys of living amongst Creator's gifts and nurturing those gifts.

We live on lands considerd Estuaries; we live in area still considered by some wilderness; we live in a tiny community which is more fishing village than town; we live among a way of life that still reaches back into yesteryear. We are about to be 'found' among developers and commercial enterprises, but for now, we still enjoy a treasure of a lifestyle that we have deliberately sought out for ourselves.

posted by Lietta Ruger

Project; bra into a purse

Well, I rather didn't think I liked this idea, but after seeing some photos, making a purse out of a bra might be a fun idea after all!



tutorial with photos at Wrights


Another tutorial with photos is shared among several sites, looks like it originated at Craftbits.com;



So, perhaps not for me would I make a bra into a purse, but it might be a fun thing to make for a couple of teen grandchildren. No? Perhaps then pre-teen grandchildren?

Project; ideas for re-using old clothes from WikiHow

How to Use Used Clothes in a Variety of Ways

What do you do with those old clothes that are lying around the house? You might try Ebay or consignment shops, though resale value for apparel is poor. If they're still in decent shape you might want to take them to Goodwill. However, for garments that are unwearable, you may try the following:

Steps

1. Make a quilt.

2. Make a dog bed. Cut up flannel shirts and stitch pieces together to form two squares (size determined by the size of the dog). Fill with cotton batting.

3. Take old silk or rayon shirts and cut a square of fabric approximately twelve inches by twelve inches. Place a wine bottle in the center. Fold the bottom corner up. Roll the bottle in the fabric, tie the top with ribbon to secure, and insert dried flowers or gift tag in the pocket the folded corner has created. You now have a last-minute hostess gift (and people might not notice the wine inside is just two-buck Chuck).

4. Cut up a blouse, preferably with a small print, to wrap nice soaps. Use as a hostess gift or in guest bathrooms.

5. If the item of clothing has any sentimental value--baby clothes, for instance--use it as the cover for a scrapbook or photo albums.

6. Use brightly colored, sturdy fabric as a border for an ordinary lampshade or picture frame.

7. Use a large piece of cloth to cover a corkboard--the corkboard will retain its function but will liven up a dull surface.

8. And if you're really in need of dust cloths or bandages, chop, chop !


Tips

* Keep similar fabrics together, especially if repurposing the clothes for quilts, coverlets, and dog beds.

* Make sure fabric isn't flammable if you're gluing it to lampshades.

* Finally, before arriving at someone's house with a wrapped wine bottle or little basket of soaps, be REALLY sure the gift isn't butchered from a piece of clothing he or she gave once gave your for your birthday or Christmas.

printed from WikiHow
I might want to check out WikiHow a bit more closely

Project; for reusing lingerie

I'm looking for ways to re-use, repurpose, refashion some of that lingerie that no longer fits my no longer svelte body.

If you have ideas or know where to send me, share links, projects, I'm happy to take your suggestions.

I found this one at Ask the Frugal Decorating Diva

Besides your pillows (which are a great use for these), here are a few ideas for those pieces:

* Consider cutting some of the lace/textures/embellishments off and using them separately. Maybe frame them, accent a lampshade with them, accent window shades with them, put them on pieces of clothing you wear, applique them onto towels, upholstered pieces or other home accessories.

* Use the gown fabric and lace/textures/embellishments to make lampshade covers.

* Use the gown fabrics to make padded hangers for your closet, or for gifts.

* Use the gown fabrics to make jewelry rolls for yourself or gifts.

* Use the gown fabrics to make makeup bags.

Leaving an impression of an imprint..sustainable living choices.

Leaving an impression of an imprint, an outline of a footprint, instead of Bigfoot evidence of squandering resources - sustainable living. A more respectful way of taking and giving back and leaving something for the next generation(s). Pass it forward.

What has been a journey for us that started years earlier, has taken on differing identifying terms as the definitions have changed. Sometimes definitions cross paths, creating junctions, and it is at the junctions that I stop and take notice that where I thought I was headed is a direction many others have willingly taken.

Meaningful, intentional lifestyle living in respect for Mother Earth. New definitions include sustainable living; concerns of global warming but there were definitions trying to point in that direction that preceded these current popular definitions.

So yes, I prefer that my husband and I leave an impression of an imprint of our lives and stewardship for the resources we've used and returned.

Thus, begins linking up some of the blogs and websites that point to the broader definitions that are inclusive of meaningful, intentional lifestyle. Some people have more choices in making deliberate lifestyle changes where other people wind up making lifestyle changes due to changes in their own life circumstances. Single mothers, loss of career or job, changes in economy, catastrophic life changes, catastrophes of nature - forced reductionism. Whether you arrive by choice or by circumstances, there is much to be said for consuming less, choosing more deliberately, and finding the pleasure and joy of living more connected to the flow of Mother Earth, nature.

I'm not there yet, don't pretend to be more than a traveler on a journey to getting there, but along my own travels, I can write of my own experiences. Perhaps other travelers will join me, perhaps we will meet up at the junctures that mark this journey as more than one path, more than one highway, more than one journey that criss crosses the map of life.


For my husband and myself, at our mid-life ages, our goals and hope is to move into our later years with vitality, healthy habits, and fill our life with the joys of living amongst Creator's gifts and nurturing those gifts.

We live on lands considerd Estuaries; we live in area still considered by some wilderness; we live in a tiny community which is more fishing village than town; we live among a way of life that still reaches back into yesteryear. We are about to be 'found' among developers and commercial enterprises, but for now, we still enjoy a treasure of a lifestyle that we have deliberately sought out for ourselves.

Now that's a Big ol' Traveling Gnome!

Now this is a Gnome! I'm one of those who like those little yard gnomes, and I actually had a 'traveling gnome' for a short while. It traveled from my daughter's house across the state to my house. But it got a knock-over and it's ceramic little ol' self broke, so no longer able to guard the little baby tree that was home to the gnome.

So this big guy could do a good job guarding anyone's yard, but looks like this big guy is a traveling gonme too, hitchiking to journey somewhere.





Borrowed the image from izel cottage blog ... hope she doesn't mind too much. Too cute to not add to my blog.

Draping shrubbery over the brick wall.

It's February, first week in February, and warming up some around here. Enough that my thoughts start turning again to the yard and garden. I've been thinking about planting some climbing or draping type shrubbery alongside the brick wall that lines the side of the house, denoting this is 'our property'. I'd like that wall to look more friendly. This is a new thought for yard project this year, so I haven't explored the potential of draping shrubbery/bushes yet, but I came across this photo today at another gardener's Izzel Cottage blog and I loved the light and colors. Noting for my own blog as a journal entry to remind me of this project idea.

Project; Wall Stencil Design

Hmmm, I liked this photo and thinking rather than spend big bucks to order the design, why not make my own template and design a wall. I've been for a long time wanting to paint wall murals on some of the walls in our home; pondering trompe l 'oeil, and considering stencils. The pic below is inspiration to design my own stencil....



Link

Project; Any Day Wreath using paint chip samples

The project shown is Valentine's Day wreath using pink paint chip samples. Why limit it to Valentine's Day with so many beautiful color paint chip samples? Greens, lilacs and lavendars, blues, yellows, and as many colors as there are so can be the wreaths you design.

So here is finished wreath;



made from



by gluing or taping to cardboard wreath shape




Follow the step by step tutorial at Handmade Detroit blog.

Project; antique paper to look like parchment

Tutorial shows you how and this is something ez enough that I would do.

Start here (document):



Add this (coffee):



And wind up with this:



There are a few more steps than these three, of course, but it is still ez project to do, using tea or coffee.
Link to the How To step by step tutorial.